Fencing is a family passion for the Hurleys, who were coached by a father who met their mother through fencing. It was also a path for an academic career that guided Kelley to medical school and Courtney to a film, television and theater degree.

All it took was a change of mentality to bring Columbia University-Barnard College’s fencing program back to its former glory as the Lions earned their first national championship since 1993 – a 22-year drought.